Results

In studies of the different ways of performing rectal prolapse surgery, no procedure has proved to be optimal for all people. Each has advantages and disadvantages, but all have similar results in terms of safety, effectiveness and recurrence rates.

For most people, rectal prolapse surgery relieves the symptoms of rectal prolapse and improves fecal incontinence. It may take a year to assess how surgery has affected bowel function.

Most published studies of results of rectal prolapse surgery report improvement in constipation for most people. But they also indicate that constipation can get worse and become a problem when it wasn't one before. If you have constipation issues, it's important to address them before having surgery.

Recurrence of rectal prolapse after surgery occurs in about 2 to 5 percent of people. It appears to be slightly more common in people who have the perineal procedure compared with an abdominal one. Talk with your doctor about your risk of recurrence and what you can do to reduce your risk.

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